Method of heating gas turbine inlet

Abstract

An air inlet system delivers a flow of air. The system included a temperature controlling section configured to alter temperature of the air flow. The temperature controlling section imparts a temperature variation distribution across different portions of the air flow. The system also includes a transition section, one or more flow diverters, one or more screens and/or a flow splitter to cause mixing of the different, temperature variant portions of the air flow and reduce the temperature variation distribution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air inlet system for delivering a flow of air, the system including:
 a temperature controlling section configured to alter temperature of the air flow, the temperature controlling section imparting a temperature variation distribution across different portions of the air flow; and   a transition section positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section, the transition section having surfaces oriented at an angle that is neither parallel not perpendicular with respect to a flow direction of the air flow entering the transition section to cause mixing of the different, temperature variant portions of the air flow and reduce the temperature variation distribution.   
     
     
         2 . The inlet system of  claim 1 , including a filter positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section, the filter being configured to filter the air flow; and the transition section is positioned between the temperature controlling section and the filter. 
     
     
         3 . The inlet system of  claim 2 , wherein the surfaces of the transition section extend upwardly relative to the temperature controlling section to the filter. 
     
     
         4 . The inlet system of  claim 3 , wherein the surfaces of transition section extends at an angle ranging from 37° to 45° from flow direction of the air flow entering the transition section. 
     
     
         5 . The inlet system of  claim 3 , wherein the transition section increases turbulence of the air flow. 
     
     
         6 . The inlet system of  claim 3 , further including a silencer positioned downstream from the filter, wherein the silencer is configured to dampen noise. 
     
     
         7 . The inlet system of  claim 6 , wherein the air flow flowing through the silencer has a temperature distribution of not more than approximately 12° F. between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The inlet system of  claim 3 , wherein the air flow flowing through an outlet of the inlet system has a temperature distribution of not more than approximately 5° F. between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The inlet system of  claim 1 , further including at least one flow diverter, wherein the at least one flow diverter is configured to divert the air flow around the at least one flow diverter. 
     
     
         10 . The inlet system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flow diverter is positioned on a bottom surface of the inlet system. 
     
     
         11 . The inlet system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one flow diverter is positioned on an upper surface of the inlet system. 
     
     
         12 . The inlet system of  claim 1 , further including a screen, wherein a first portion of the air flow is configured to be diverted around the screen, further wherein a second portion of the air flow is configured to flow through the screen. 
     
     
         13 . The inlet system of  claim 1 , further including a flow splitter, wherein the flow splitter is configured to be positioned at a vertical midpoint within the inlet system, further wherein a first portion of the air flow is configured to flow under the flow splitter and a second portion of the air flow is configured to flow above the flow splitter. 
     
     
         14 . An air inlet system for delivering a flow of air, the system including:
 a temperature controlling section configured to alter temperature of the air flow, the temperature controlling section imparting a temperature variation distribution across different portions of the air flow; and   at least one flow diverter positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section, the at least one flow diverter extending transverse with respect to a flow direction of the air flow moving past the at least one flow diverter to divert the air flow around the at least one flow diverter to cause mixing of the different, temperature variant portions of the air flow and reduce the temperature variation distribution.   
     
     
         15 . The inlet system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one flow diverter includes a first flow diverter positioned at a bottom surface of the inlet system, further wherein the at least one flow diverter includes a second flow diverter positioned at an upper surface of the inlet system. 
     
     
         16 . The inlet system of  claim 15 , wherein the first flow diverter is configured to divert colder air upwards over the first flow diverter, further wherein the second flow diverter is configured to divert warmer air downwards underneath the second flow diverter. 
     
     
         17 . The inlet system of  claim 14 , further including a screen positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section, wherein at least a first portion of the air flow is diverted around the screen and at least a second portion of the air flow is configured to pass through the screen. 
     
     
         18 . The inlet system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one flow diverter includes a flow splitter, further wherein the flow splitter is configured to extend between opposing sides of the inlet system and at least some of the air flow is configured to flow under the flow splitter and the remaining air flow is configured to flow above the flow splitter. 
     
     
         19 . An air inlet system for delivering a flow of air, the system including:
 a temperature controlling section configured to alter temperature of the air flow, the temperature controlling section imparting a temperature variation distribution across different portions of the air flow; and   at least one screen positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section, the at least one screen extending transverse with respect to a flow direction of the air flow moving past the at least one screen, at least a first portion of the air flow moves through the screen to cause turbulence and cause mixing of the different, temperature variant portions of the air flow and reduce the temperature variation distribution; and   a flow diverter positioned downstream from the temperature controlling section and within the air flow to divert at least some of the air flow to a first side of the flow diverter and to divert at least some of the air flow to a second side of the flow diverter to cause turbulence and cause mixing of the different, temperature variant portions of the air flow and reduce the temperature variation distribution.   
     
     
         20 . The inlet system of  claim 19 , wherein the flow diverter includes a flow splitter, further wherein the flow splitter includes a non-linear shape.